Now before I start getting hate for not supporting the new school, I’m still an enormous fan of Blu, I’m diggin on the homie below and there’s of course Curren$y.

I can’t quite put my finger on it yet, but this guy is dope. The way he carries himself, his delivery, his writing, if he continues down this path he could totally end up being in a class alongside Mos, Kweli, Common, etc. Hell, he’s already in a group with Mos and Jay Electronica (remember Center Edge Territory?…when the hell is that shit coming out!!)

Anyway, some new dopeness from Spitta produced by BluRoc (a.k.a. Ski Beatz). Get live.

If you ever wondered if/how Dame Dash would/could ever come back and make himself relevant again, well look no further than the past year.

First bringing together Roots Rock champions the Black Keys with some of N.Y.’s all-time greatest spitters (Mos Def, Q-Tip, Pharoahe Monch, Billy Danze, RZA, Raekwon, etc.) to bring you a 21st century version of Heavy Rhyme Experience(know the ledge), BlakRoc.

And if that wasn’t enough, now with the resurrection Mr. Luchini himself, Ski Beatz and putting him alongside some of Hip-Hop’s most (under) appreciated greats, they bring you 24 Hour Karate School (a.k.a. BluRoc)

We’ve already dropped one goodie from the project and now here go 2 more. Pure beastage.

24 Hour Karate School you might remember, is the name of a track I posted a few weeks back that Mos Def did with Ski-Beatz. Well not only was it the name of a dope song but it’s apparently the name of a dope album. Ski-Beatz, along with Blakroc conceiver, Dame Dash are putting out a project featuring not only Pretty Flaco but Jay Electronica, Curren$y, Nikki Wray, Jim Jones and plenty more. It’s kinda like another Blakroc, but instead of the Black Keys it’s Ski-Beatz. I’m cool with that. Here’s the trailer for the upcoming record from the Luchini Maestro.

BABU & DILLA

The world famous Dilated Junkie, DJ Babu makes a rare appearance on the blogs and tips his hat to the late greatest. Featuring cameos from House Shoes, Alchemist and more, it’s a feel good type of thing.

POP LIFE & RACE MATTERS

It’s the IllDoc, J Smooth. Need I say more?

ME AND THIS JAWN

And since I missed it, a special lovers day offering from the Paid Dues President, an eighth of the Living Legends Crew and half of Felt,Murs.

HHHThe Return,
There’s only one thing to say about today’s post. He’s Baaaaaaaack.

Gil Scott-Heron. The man responsible for ‘The Revolution will not be televised’ and a major influence on most of your favorite emcees, shocked everyone last month in announcing his return to the recorded medium. Now, as an even bigger announcement, we have a full streaming version of said record for your listening pleasure.

As of late I’ve mostly been offering you goodies from established artists and people you’re generally familiar with. Cats who’ve already put in their work and now have the luxury of having fans who actually pay attention whenever their name pops up.

Well, with ’09 on its death bed and the genesis of a new year upon us, I figured, let’s hang with some newer cats today. And even though these guys aren’t technically the newest, most unheard of bunch, they’re still working hard to have their cult followings blow up to the masses.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

No, the above title heading isn’t my prediction but in fact the name of the new record from Detroit’s torchbearer of production since the late great Dilla‘s passing, Black Milk.

As this is his 4th official drop (and like nth if you count mixtapes and what not) it’s odd for me to call Milk a new schooler just because he’s still relatively unknown to the masses. Everyone in the scene knows him and is quite familiar with his hard edged boom bap and pocket cadences, and homie’s been doing his thing for quite some time now. However, because of where he’s at and what he’s accomplished, general media still consider him part of this class and well, I guess it’s better than going the route of has-been. Anyway, from what I’m told, Milk’s swinging for the fences this year and I’ll be the first to admit I have a personal stake in seeing Detroit cats win. So, here’s my nudge for Milk to get his this year.

It seems like if you throw Jay (or J-)in your name, success is inevitable.

Jay Dee (Dilla not Dupri), Jay-Z, J-Rocc, J.J. Fad, J-Kwon…okay, so maybe not everyone who throws it in there, but there seem to be enough. Now to add to the list, the South’s first internationally known true-blue lyricist since ’93’s inauguration of a young Antwan Patton and Andre Benjamin, Jay Electronica.

Nas approved, Mos Def affiliated and Erykah Badu loved, in his short time in the business, the new Jay on the block has accomplished an incredible amount and shows absolutely no signs of slowing for the new year. If you’ve never heard him, just imagine Mos Def and DOOM‘s lovechild. Or better yet, why don’t you just take a listen for yourself. Courtesy of Jay and another blockbuster of a close affiliate in Just Blaze, I give you that new new.

This Roots affiliate, like many of the others (Malik B., Dice Raw, etc.), gets under appreciated for his work. I’m not trying to claim that he’s the hottest thing out, but he’s quite good at what he does and if you’re ever searchin for some good ol’ fashioned gettin it in type raps, he’s always worth checking.

Cut from the Roots ‘Sandwiches EP’, Truck brings you a minute of that raw ish. I like it beaucoup.

Out of 365 days, the 359th has earned a rep similar to that of Kanye West in that you generally either love it or hate it. The combination of family gatherings, old friends coming home, turkey dinners, caroling, decorating trees, snow and capitalism working at full capacity tends to make you choose sides. Myself, much like my opinion on Kanye West (and this completely dumps on my first sentence), I’m on a fence-sitting tip. Where as I’m more than enamored with the thought of an unrelenting amount of food, my bank account barely survives my week to week gig let alone a day where I’m supposed to buy more than a dozen people heartfelt gifts.

So with that being said, J-Smooth just released his own Holiday Vlog taking my thoughts and well, relaying it way better than I ever could.

And of course, what would the holidays be without a few gifts.

JUST BEGUN

If the first single didn’t already get you absolutely buckwild excited for this, here’s a little help.

Off the upcoming Reflection Eternal record, Kwe and Hi-Tek drop this extra dope posse cut just in time for the holidays. Enlisting the help of Jigga approved J. Cole, Badu’s new baby daddy Jay Electronica, and as always, the Mighty Mos Def here’s somethin to keep you warm as the Weather gets Lil’ Jon.

Yes, the past 8 months here in Toronto have been phenomenal both personally and professionally (’09 has been the SHEEEEEIIIIT!) but, it’s starting to get cold and I’ve quickly realized that I’m not built like that anymore. Plus, I miss the shit outta my Taiwanese counterparts. So, I’m gettin my hibernation on and goin to the island to throw parties with the best of the best and enjoy life.

However, as those of you who’ve flown overseas before know, I’m gonna be on a plane for like 2 months rendering this blog inactive for a little bit. So today’s post is gonna be completely loaded with goodies to tide you over until I get back to some land.

So without further ado…

THE PROFESSIONAL

If there was ever someone you called a ‘professional emcee’, Black Thought should be the first person you think of. At very least second.

Well, this unreleased goodie aptly titled ‘The Professional’ has just surfacedand it proves my point 300 times over.

I don’t know what it is, but there are few, if any, albums that ever beat out Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 2on my playlist. I still listen to that ish like it dropped last Tuesday, and I don’t foresee any slowing up. Sure my favorite reincarnation of them is still the original trio, but Elzhi‘s contribution to the group should never be downplayed. He’s an absolute monster. Anyway, since today’s blog is LONG, I’ma keep this short (as possible). With one of Baatin’s last recordings before he passed, off the upcoming Villa Manifesto, I give you…

So I’m not sure if you’ve heard or not but HHHT faves Mos Def, Jay Electronica and current Hip-Hop blog darling, Curren$y(pictured below) have formed a new group called Center Edge Territoryand have apparently already finished 6 songs?

Yeah. Didn’t see that one coming, especially since Curren$y used to roll with Lil Weezy and that match up just seems odd to me. However, homie can rap, so as long as there’s that, I’m cool. Anyway, although nothing has leaked yet, here goes a little something from each member of this new underground powerhouse.

Jay Electronica, along with Ta’raach jump on this intergalactic dopeness from another HHHT favorite Sa-Ra Creative Partners.

Scarub, Luckyiam, Sunspot Jonz, Eligh, Bicasso, Aesop, Murs & The Grouch, or better known as West Coast’s current underground torchbearers, The Living Legends are the definition of paid dues. Having completely built themselves up independently from scratch, there are few hip-hop artists who can rival what they’ve done in the underground and truthfully, there are few hip-hop artists, underground or mainstream that can generate the revenue they do because of the work they’ve put in and the independent route they’ve taken. Now, at approximately a gazillion total releases, one of the Legends standouts, the Grouch returns with his latest effort ‘Eyes off the time’ and so far it sounds extra ill. Check the promo vid and DL below: